Fishing the North Coast: Salmon action remains hot off the coast

At this point in the season, I'm running out of words to describe our salmon season.

It's been "lights out" for the better part of two months out of Eureka and showing no signs of slowing down.

Crescent City has been wide-open since last week and limits have been coming out of Trinidad daily, but Eureka has been consistently spectacular.

Long-time anglers who've fished here since the 1960s can't ever remember a season this good. Skipper Phil Glenn of Shellback Sport Fishing has been fishing these waters for years, both commercially and as a charter boat captain, agrees.

"We've had some really good seasons up here, but I can't ever remember the fishing being this good for this long. Along with a large number of fish, the good weather has really played a key role in our success this year. I fished 21 days in the month of June, which certainly doesn't happen every year," Glenn added.

Marine forecast

It doesn't look like the ocean will be flat calm this weekend, but it should remain fishable. The wind on Friday is predicted to blow up to 12 knots, with swells to five feet and one to two-foot wind waves. Saturday, the wind is predicted up to 10 knots, with five-foot swells and two-foot wind waves. Sunday is looking a little better, with wind to eight knots and four to five-foot swells and wind waves at one to two-feet.

These conditions can and will change by the weekend. For up-to-date weather forecast, visit www.weather.gov/eureka. You can also call the National Weather Service at (707) 443-7062 or the office on Woodley Island at (707) 443-6484.

Clamming

John Corbett of Eureka's Pacific Outfitters reports we're in the midst of another good set of minus tides, which will run through Saturday.

"Early in the week the clamming was excellent, with most anglers scoring limits of jumbo clams. On Wednesday the ocean roughed up and it was much tougher. It looks like there's plenty of nice, big clams to be had, but the success rate is really dependent on how calm the ocean is," Corbett said.

Sport/commercial crab seasons set to close

Sport Dungeness crab season in Humboldt, Mendocino, and Del Norte counties will come to a close on Monday July 30. The commercial season will close out of Eureka on July 15.

The north end of Freshwater Lagoon near the boat launch area remains closed due to an illegal release of sewage according to the Redwood National and State Parks. The park has closed the area adjacent to the boat ramp until further notice, but the south end is open.

Rangers have staked off the area and posted warning signs. The closure will remain in effect until the situation no longer poses a risk to public health and safety.

For more information, call the parks chief of resources management and science, Dave Roemer, at 707-465-7700.

The Oceans:

Eureka

As if the fishing needed to get any easier, the last few days have seen the fish move in closer and they've also gotten a little bigger. Most of the action has centered just south of the whistler buoy in 120 feet of water, which is about a two-mile run from the entrance.

Skipper Phil Glenn of Shellback Sport Fishing tied on the mooching gear for the first time this season on Tuesday and put the hurt to them pretty good. He finished with a couple to 18-pounds, a few around 15, and only a couple smaller fish to fill out his limit.

"If the conditions are right, mooching is a great way to fish," Glenn added.

Captain Tim Klassen on the Reel Steel and Captain Gary Blasi of Full Throttle Sport Fishing have both been working the same water with the same results -- early and quick limits. On Monday, fishing the 45.5 line Blasi had one of his best days as far as size goes this year. He boated four fish over 20-pounds and the rest of them running between 12 and 18.

"There's definitely some bigger fish around now and it doesn't seem to matter which direction you head, there's fish everywhere," Blasi added.

Trinidad

According to Curt Wilson who runs the Wind Rose Charter out of Trinidad, the salmon action remains red-hot. It's a little inconsistent as far as size goes -- one day you'll run into a school of bigger fish, the next day you'll get nothing but smaller fish. We've been getting them as shallow as 90 feet, but I bet if someone tried, they'd get them in closer too. The rockfish action is still going strong. We're concentrating our efforts mostly north of the head to Patrick's Point. I've also heard of a few more halibut being caught lately, with most of the fish coming straight out in 300 feet of water," Wilson added.

Shelter Cove

According to Russ Thomas of Mario's Marina in Shelter Cove, the salmon bite has slowed down the last couple days.

"Most boats are still coming in with limits, but they're having to work a little harder for them. The halibut bite has picked up, with most of the action taking place just outside the whistle down to the Hat. We weighed in a 70 and a 55-pounder this week," Thomas added. Thomas also reports the perch bite is still going strong along the beach.

Crescent City

The salmon action remains "on fire" according to Leonard Carter of Englund Marine in Crescent City.

"Most of fish are coming in close, right around the buoy's and the fish are coming shallow. Guys are getting them five pulls on a Deep Six. There's quite a few bigger fish around now, with lots of 20s and a few 30-pounders being caught. Just about every type of offering is working, including bait, Apex's, and cut plugs," Carter added.

The Rivers:

Lower Klamath

Guide Mike Coopman reports the fishing pressure has been light on the Klamath, with the few boats sitting on the anchor reporting three to five hookups per trip.

"The water has cleared and the moss has started to come down. I've heard of a few fish caught at the mouth by anglers mostly trolling the outgoing tide. There's also a few steelhead around, with guides catching a few while side-drifting bait," Coopman added.

The passing of my mentor

On Wednesday, July 4, my father -- the man who first introduced me to the world of outdoors -- passed away peacefully at the age of 87.

An avid hunter and fisherman, he first came to the North Coast in the 1950s to fish the Klamath River.

Up until this year, he'd spent the previous 35 summers salmon fishing out of Fort Bragg and Crescent City. He was a great father and my best friend.

Because he introduced me to the area at a very young age (in diapers actually), I grew to love the North Coast -- especially the Klamath River. And with his blessing, I decided to move here nine years ago.